Guides & Their Toys
Go Touch Down Travel & Tours
- Offices In:
-
United States
Canada
Australia - Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Small & medium group tours (Mid-range & luxury)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Cristina O. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Service
I went with my 4 sisters and 2 friends and we all had a memorable experience. All the staff were very friendly and helpful. They always have a big smile on their faces. Both our tour guides Thabo and Shamrack were exceptional. Thabo is a very happy person and very efficient. He’ll get things done even without you asking. Shamrack is a very skilled game guide. He knew exactly where to find the animals and we learned so much from his knowledge. We were so lucky to have both take care of us. We also think the food was delicious. We really had a very nice and memorable trip.
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Email Natalie Malin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dream of a Lifetime AND no single supplement
Overall, my trip to South Africa through Go Touch Down Tours was fantastic. The trip was everything that the tour operator said it would be. It was tremendous value for the money as all the accommodations were included and were first rate; majority of meals were included; all entry fees were covered; and we covered a lot of South Africa. This was one of my first times traveling internationally by myself, and I always felt safe with the Tour group. Here are some highlights:
· Mpumalanga - Tour guides & Tracker – I cannot say enough wonderful things about our tour guide, Joseph. He was very kind, and extremely personable. He ensured we saw everything promised on the tour, but he was flexible, and was so gracious in answering our questions and sharing about his country and culture with us. Additionally, our tracker at Tshukudu, Johnson, was so knowledgeable about the land and the animals. Our time with him at the game reserve and at Kruger were some of my best highlights. The staff at Tshukudu were all very warm and friendly. They were always ready to serve and to ensure we had a great visit. Food was delicious and there was always ample to try and experience.
· Mpumalanga itinerary – I am a city girl, but hands down, the safari portion of the trip was my favorite. The beauty in the area is amazing between The Chief and his three wives to Lisbon Falls to Potholes to God’s Window….all are majestic and photos cannot capture the true beauty of the area. BUT nothing matches the beauty of the animals and how close we were to many. I have a short video I took which I affectionately call “The Lion King Shot.” It has giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas running in the shot, and it was amazing to see. We were with Johnson one day, and he turned a corner, for us to immediately start going backwards because two elephants were walking on the road towards us. Another day, we saw the lions eating a wildebeest, and then one morning the lions were walking near our jeep. There are so many wonderful memories!
· Cape Town tour and staff – This is an action packed itinerary, and JP, our tour guide, did a great job of dealing with Cape Town traffic and showing us all the sites. Cape Town is stunning from Simons Town with the penguins, Chapman’s Peak, the Cape of Good Hope, V&A Waterfront, the coastline, Table Mountain, and of course the wineries. Robben Island, which was an extra excursion on the last day was fantastic, and it is a must see!
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Email Susan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A fine tuned, well oiled machine.
The guides were great. They all knew everything about everything. I had a million questions about animals and birds and they were able to answer them. The food was great. No bad meals. The accommodations were very nice and they kept getting nicer as the tour went on. At first, I didn't understand how it all worked since I had never travelled with guides who helped us with everything and took us everywhere. Other than the road into Tshukudu was extremely bumpy (gravel might help the vans negotiate the road better), all of the accommodations were nice--once we got there.
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Email Jan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
She was very helpful even though we had set backs because of Covid.
We were four senior ladies traveling for the first time to Africa so we had to trust our tour company for their knowledge. The safari exceeded our expectations from the accommodations to the food. We saw all of the big five animals in the first two days of the safari, The staff in the lodges couldn't have been more accommodating.
Tsukudu Game Reservewas beautiful and our rooms were spotless. Avani resort at Victoria falls was beautiful as well as the falls. Each time we were to be picked up the driver was there to bring us to our destination.
We couldn't have been more pleased.
Caring, provided excellent service each day!
The trip to South Africa was beyond AMAZING! The accommodations, for Shark Bay and Belle Maroc exceeded my expectations in all areas! (5 stars). Stillness Manor (3 1/2 stars). The property was ok, my room/decor was dull, unclean vibe, the staff and food was excellent! (5 stars)
Our tour guide J.P. was a great guide, full of information, kind spirit, patient, and a great sense of humor. He went above and beyond throughout the week; (sharing what places to visit for certain types of souvenirs, etc. (5 stars).
I'm in awe of the overall experience! My heart if filled with gratitude and joy, and I want to thank Deon and staff for all the kindness given prior to my departure. I would highly recommend Go Touch Down, (5 stars) and continue to share with others.
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Email Robert and Karen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our trip was beyond our expectations.
We were taken care of from the start to the end when we were dropped off at the airport. Every accommodation was excellent as well as all the food provided to us. The Safaris were amazing, we were so lucky to have had Johnson as our guide while in the bush. Being in the nature among the wildlife was a once in a lifetime experience. When in Cape Town we were treated to so many site seeing tours and adventures to experience. We had the best time and would do it all over again.
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Email Karen and Chris Graber | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime in a beautiful country
Wow this trip exceeded our expectations. We booked the 8 day safari and 8 day Cape Town tour with Lucia who was great to work with and very helpful. The itinerary that she sent before we left was so helpful and had so much information about our trip. Once we arrived in Johannesburg everything ran seamlessly. Bakkies picked us up at the airport and was so friendly and a wealth of knowledge. We stayed at Dunkeld Country Estates and Tshukudu Lodge for the first part of our trip. Both were nice lodges with beautiful grounds. The staff were all friendly and eager to make our stay enjoyable. We will never forget the safari’s and seeing all of the majestic animals in their natural habitat. Tyler was our safari guide and was very informative and his love for animals showed. He was determined to find as many animals as possible including the big 5. The highlight was watching two male elephants playing in the water for over 30 min and we could have watched all night.
Cape Town was a beautiful coastal city. Jonathan was our guide and is a proud Cape Town native who provided insight into the culture and history of his city. As for the hotels Belle Marco and Shark Bay were right on the water so we enjoyed walking the beach and it was the first time we’ve seen flamingos in the wild. Stillness Manor had beautiful grounds, but needed some updates and TLC. Again all the staff were friendly and eager to help. We enjoyed some delicious seafood and some wine in the wine lands.
Overall it was an amazing trip and we enjoyed every day to the fullest. If you are considering a trip to South Africa you would be foolish to try and book your own itinerary. Go with Go Touchdown Travel because you will experience things you would never see on your own.
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Email Alex | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Almost made it to Excellent!
It truly was a trip of a lifetime! The people we met, the animals we saw, the scenery...all just amazing! Our drivers and guides were wonderful, especially James who went above and beyond to make sure we got to see and do as much as possible and was so informative as well. The staff at all of the accommodation sites were welcoming and delightful to be around. The food was very good and we were never hungry!! We stayed at 5 different Go Touch Down properties and 4 of them were lovely. We would have been happy staying at any of them the whole time! However, the Belle Maroc was not up to the standards of the other properties. Our sliding glass door to our balcony did not close properly so there was no way to lock it. We had no hot water in the shower the first day. There was what looked like black mold in the shower. There was no hair dryer in the room but I was able to get one from the front desk. And speaking of the front desk, everyone working there was extremely nice but apparently filling several different positions at the hotel, ie desk clerk, waitress, barista
I was glad that we did not end our trip there as I would have left with a sour feeling about Cape Town. Aside from this, it was one of the best trips we've ever taken and have told everyone who would listen that they really should put South Africa on their bucket list!
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Email Carol | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Money Well Spent on the Amazing 10 Day Signature Tour
We recently returned from the 10 day Signature Tour in South Africa, with the 3 day add on of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. It was an amazing trip! The ability to be as close to the animals as we were was unbelievable. The highlight of the trip was being 15 feet from two lions eating a young giraffe at Tshukudu. We couldn’t get enough of giraffes, zebras, rhinos, buffalos and elephants. Our guides were very knowledgeable and personable, and always available. All in all a great time and a great big tick on our bucket list. We definitely would recommend Go Touchdown and this specific tour to others.
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Email Barbara | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience in South Africa
The accommodations, food, guides and overall experience were wonderful. I thought spending the first night at the hotel in OR Tambo airport was perfect after our long flights. James met us Wednesday morning after breakfast and drove us to the lovely Equestrian Estate. James was a fabulous guide, very knowledgeable and fun to be with.
I LOVED staying at Tshukudu Game Lodge! The entire staff were wonderful, accommodations & food very enjoyable. The best part was the safaris and close interaction with the animals! Our guide, Michael, was so knowledgeable, friendly and an absolute pleasure to be around! We also had the good fortune of going out with Chris on our first morning safari & came across two male lions shortly after they killed a zebra. The lions had full bellies and willing to pose for us while we took hundreds of pictures. I was very sad to leave Tshukudu and say goodbye to our home away from home.
Our accommodations at Ilala Lodge were very nice & comfortable and the grounds/setting were beautiful. We enjoyed the guided walking tour of Victoria Falls and the sunset river cruise.
The trip far exceeded my expectations. I loved So Africa and hope to be able to visit Kenia, Tanzinia and Cape Town in the future.
Thank you all at Touchdown Travel for job well done!
